Wayne State University Athletics

Football 8/28/2025 10:00:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

2025 WSU Football - Special Teams Preview

DETROIT -- This is the final position preview for the 2025 Wayne State University football team. This segment features new special teams coordinator Ahmed Saleh.

There will be competition for each spot on special teams especially since last year's top two kickers graduated, the long snapper left via the transfer portal and a combined two kickoff returns are back (one each for Elijah Fowlkes and Justyz Tuggle).

Three place-kickers/punters from a season ago return led by redshirt junior Avery Burch (Detroit, Mich. / River Rouge [Va. University - Lynchburg]). He saw action in seven games and averaged 44 yards per punt with two punts over 50 yards and four punts inside the 20. Burch made his WSU debut with a 54-yard punt against Indianapolis that went out of bounds at the UI three-yard line. He had a 48-yard punt at Truman State, while both punts vs. Ferris State were inside the 20. His lone punt vs. Saginaw Valley went for 54 yards, while his lone punt vs. Roosevelt went inside the 20.

Redshirt sophomore Griffin Nowak (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin) as well as redshirt freshman Anthony Markovski (Macomb, Mich. / Anchor Bay) are looking to make their collegiate debuts.

The Warriors added two kickers in Albany transfer Dove Eitzen (Blissfield, Mich. / Blissfield [Albany]) and freshman George Sanchez-Murillo (Lincoln Park, Mich. / Detroit Cass Tech).

Eitzen, who redshirted at the University of Albany in 2024, received First Team All-Lenawee County Athletic Association (LCAA) accolades as a senior in 2023. In addition, he was named to the LCAA All-Academic Team. Eitzen was selected to the 2023 MHSFCA Division 7 All-Region 4 First Team as a specialist.

Sanchez-Murillo was selected to the 2024 Detroit News Dream Team after earning a spot on the All-Detroit Team. He was named to the 2024 Detroit Free Press All-Detroit First Team. Sanchez-Murillo averaged 40 yards per punt in 2024 with 11 inside the 20 and 24 of his 38 kickoffs as a senior went for a touchback.

Zaiden Hall (Goodrich, Mich.), a freshman who helped the Martians to a 13-1 record as a senior and the 2024 MHSAA Division 4 state title, was brought in to serve as the long snapper. Two other true freshmen are Hall's back-up in Liam Distelzweig (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard) and Zion Lancaster (Miami, Fla. / Edison).

The holder and return positions were determined during fall camp and include Eitzen as the holder with redshirt freshman wide receiver Kristian Kilpatrick (Fenton, Mich.) as his back-up.

Newcomer Angel Carrillo (Atascosa, Texas / Southwest [Univ. of Fort Lauderdale / Livingstone College]) is slated to handle both punt returns and kickoff returns, while graduate transfer D'Vaun Bentley (Detroit, Mich. / Loyola [Central State / Lawrence Tech]) is also scheduled to be deep on kickoff returns.

Wayne State will conclude second week of fall practice this Saturday. The home and season opener will take place on Thursday, Sept. 4 with a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Tiffin Dragons. Both season and single-game tickets are available by clicking here. WSU Athletics supporters can also join the W-Club by clicking here.

Other Position Previews
Season Preview
Quarterbacks Preview
Defensive Backs Preview
Wide Receivers Preview
Linebackers Preview
Defensive Line Preview
Offensive Line Preview
Tight Ends Preview
Running Backs Preview

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Players Mentioned

#RS Avery Burch: PK; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#2 Elijah Fowlkes: S; 5' 10"; Senior

#82 Kristian Kilpatrick: WR/H; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#40 Griffin Nowak: PK/P; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#7 Justyz Tuggle: WR; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

#19 Anthony Markovski: PK/P; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

#1 D'Vaun Bentley: RB/KOR; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#8 Angel Carrillo: WR/Ret.; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

#30 George Sanchez-Murillo: PK/P; 6' 0"; Freshman

#41 Liam Distelzweig: S/LS; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#RS Avery Burch
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: PK

#2 Elijah Fowlkes
: 5' 10"; Senior
: S

#82 Kristian Kilpatrick
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: WR/H

#40 Griffin Nowak
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: PK/P

#7 Justyz Tuggle
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#19 Anthony Markovski
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: PK/P

#1 D'Vaun Bentley
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: RB/KOR

#8 Angel Carrillo
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: WR/Ret.

#30 George Sanchez-Murillo
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: PK/P

#41 Liam Distelzweig
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: S/LS